Will special interest groups be lobbying cardinals on who'll be next Pope?

[expatriot]

Will special interest groups be lobbying cardinals on who'll be next Pope?

Like multi-national corporations, the U.S. Republican Party, etc.?

I mean it would be tempting for groups to get a Pope in there that support their positions, for example... Multinationals, the IMF, etc. will want a Pope that doesn't stress social and economic justice that much. The U.S. Republican Party'll want a Pope that stresses abortion while turning a blind eye to capital punishment and foreign policy. So here is the question: Will special interest groups be lobbying the cardinals and will they be successful?

[Tux]

1. They stole an election

Why not steal the remains of the Roman Empire?

[CatholicEdHead]

2. Cardnials are locked into a room

and they decide among themselves. There is NO outside contact once they start talking. Any lobbying would have to be before deliberations start.

[expatriot]

4. The lobbying has been going on for years now.

Why can't there be public confirmation hearings?

[CatholicEdHead]

5. Church is not a democracy

That is the truth. As much it is tried to be influence from below, there is nothing in church Canon law that gives the laity any real power at all.

It has been that way since the conception of the church.

[expatriot]

6. My point exactly. How can unchecked power not become corrupted?

[UrbScotty]

3. Is the Pope Catholic? (nt)

[snippy]

7. The selection of the next Pope is probably already a done deal.

And lobbying probably occurred and may still be occurring. But we will never know because what happens in the Vatican stays in the Vatican.